Ball valves

ABSTRACT

981,013. Valves. H. A. ROY. May 3, 1963 [May 11, 1963], No. 17527/63. Heading F2V. In a rotary spherical valve having an inlet 12 and an outlet 14, the rotary ball 24 seats within a pair of annular, spherical surfaced rubber, elastomer or metal seal rings 26 and 28 in sealing and slidable engagement with spherical surfaced valve body seats 54 and 56. During valve assembly, the rings 26 and 28 are rotated upon the seats 54 and 56 to permit the insertion therebetween of the ball 24 via valve housing opening 36. As the ball 24 is forced downward into the bore the seal rings 26 and 28 slide about seats 54 and 56 into the vertical position to surround and contact the ball 54. The ball is rotated by a stem 30 located within a keyed slot 32 against fixed limiting stops (not shown) and is retained in position by bonnet 34 which bears, via thrust washer 46, against stem flange 31. 0-ring seals 62 and 64 are preferably located in annular grooves within seats 54 and 56 and the grooves may comprise merely an axially and a radially extending surface or, if in the upstream seat, may comprise a parallel sided groove to prevent seal ring extrusion under high pressures. The diameter of the seal rings 26 and 28 is preferably less than that of the seats 54 and 56. Where the seal rings are made of metal they may also contain O-rings within grooves 70 and 72. The seal rings may also be constructed with a semicircular, radially extending flange 66 to restrict motion during valve assembly.

H. A. ROY, SR

Dec. 15, 1964 BALL VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1962 INVENTOR HENRY A. ROY, SR.

gBY aim C {2% now 60w Dec. 15, 1964 H. A. ROY, SR 3,161,204

BALL VALVES Filed May 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 FIG 5 F I G 6 INVENTOR HENRY A. ROY, SR.

3,l 6 LEM Patented Dec. 15, 1964 3,161,204 BALL VALVES Henry A. Roy, Sr., 117 Lowell St, Peabody, Mass. Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No. 194,106 12 Claims. (Cl. 137-315) This invention relates generally to ball valves and more particularly to free-floating ball valves having unique annular hemispherically-shaped seal rings.

An essential requirement for all ball valves having a self-centering or floating ball is that the seals or rings must be installed under a predetermined amount of preload in order to prevent leakage through the valve, a particularly acute problem where low pressure differentials are involved. One valve of this type is an endloaded valve in which the rings and the ball are installed through one end thereof. The rings are preloaded and the ball and rings are held in place by a locking ring. A second valve of this type is a valve having a two-piece or multi-piece housing. Assembly of this type of valve is accomplished by inserting the rings and ball between the pieces and then bolting the pieces together. The bolts serve a dual purpose in that they not only hold the valve together but they also are used to apply the proper amount of preload on the rings. However, both the end-loaded and two-piece or multi-piece valves of the free-floating types suffer from a common disadvantage in that they have to be entirely removed from the piping system for maintenance since assembly or disassembly thereof can not otherwise be accomplished. A third valve of this type is the top-loaded valve. This type of valve can be easily maintained without being first removed from the pi ing system; however, since the physical size of the valve and the complexity thereof is considerably increased in order to construct a proper functioning valve, the cost of the valve is increased accordingly.

Consequently, the primary object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, compact, self-centering or freefioating ball valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact, inexpensive, top-loaded, free-floating ball valve of simple design which can be easily assembled or disassembled without being removed from a piping system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toploaded, inexpensive, free-floating ball valve having unique annular hemispherically-shaped rings.

Another object of this invention is to provide aninexpensive, top-loaded, free-floating ball valve of simple design having unique annular hemispherically-shaped rings which are mounted, during installation or removal of the ball, for slidable'movement in the valve seats such that the force exerted on the ball during assembly causes the j 1 rings to position or snap in place under proper preload and during disassembly causes the rings to become disengaged from the ball and move in a direction opposite to the direction of the movement of the ball.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

1 FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of valve constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGKZ is a longitudinal sectional view of a partially assembled valve constructed in accordance with this invention showing the ball and rings in a partially assembled position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a partially assembled valve constructed in accordance with this invention showing the ball and rings in a nearly assembled position;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of one preferred embodiment of a ring constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View of the ring shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 55;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view of another preferred embodiment of a seal ring constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In one representative embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve structure comprises a generally cylindrical single piece housing 10 made of suitable material, such as stainless steel, which has two cylindrical or generally cylindrical fluid passages 12 and 14. The outer ends 16 and 18 of said fluid passages are machined to permit welding of the valve in a pipeline (not shown). Said ends may, however, be internally or externally threaded, flanged or have any othersuitable end connection as desired. The fluid passages 12 and 14 communicate with a central space 26 having an axis perpendicular to said passages 12 and 14. The fluid passages 12 and 14 communicate with a passage 22 in a rotatable ball member 24 which is mounted in the central space 20 between two seal rings 25 and 28. A stem 30 is positioned within a keyed slot 32 formed in the top of the ball 24. The stem 30 extends through an opening 35 in the removable bonnet 34 which is threadably mounted in the opening 36 formed in the housing 10. A handle 38 is securely attached to the stem 30 by a lock washer 40 and screw 42.

The stem 30 has-a boss portion 31 having an annular groove 33 formed therein. Positioned within this groove 33 is an O-ring 44. The removable bonnet 34 has an opening or vertical bore 35 extending therethrough. Positioned within said opening 35 are an annular thrust washer 46 and the stem 30. Also formed within said removable bonnet 34 is an annular groove 48 in which is positioned an O-ring seal 5t O-rings 44 and 50 prevent leakage between the stem 30 and the bonnet 34 and be tween the housing 10 and the bonnet 34, respectively.

Stops (not shown) included as an integral part of the housing 10 cause interference with a portion (not shown) of the handle 38 as said handle is rotated to position the rotatable ball member 24. Said stops, are positioned such that interference with the handle 38 occurs when the fluid passage 22 within the ball 24 is aligned with the fluid passages 12 and 14 (opened position) and when said fluid passages 22 within said ball 24 extends across said fluid passages 12 and 114 (closed position).

The ball member 24 is shown in FIG. 1 having a fluid passage 22 therethrough, the length of which is less than the diameter of the ball 24. The ball 24 has an outer convexly-curved surface portion 52 which engages one axial end of each of the seal rings 26 and 28 when the valve member is in the opened and closed position.

Formed within the housing 10 are two valve seats 54 and 56, each comprising an annular hemispherical surface, one of each being located adjacent to and concentric with the inlet and outlet fluid passages into and out of, respectively, the housings central space or cavity 20. The hemispherically-shaped surface of each valve seat, particularly the seat formed adjacent to the discharge or downstream fluid passage, preferably has an annular groove 58, formed therein. Positioned within each of these annular grooves is a separate seal means such as an O-ring 62, 64. If the annular groove is formed only in the downstream valve seat 56, it need only comprise a radially extending surface 60a and an axially extending surface 6%, both said surfaces which meet along a common circular line, since the radially extending surface 60a sufliciently precludes the O-ring 64 from being extruded out of the groove 60. However, if an 0-ring is positioned within the upstream valve seat, it is additionally desirable, particularly wherehigh pressures are. encountered, toform the upstream annular groove comprising two radially extending surfaces 58a and 580 connected by an axially extending surface 585. The radially extending surface 58c preventsthe Cl-ring 62from being extrudedout'of the annular groove 58, particularly where high'pressures are encountered; I

An important aspect of the invention concerns the I tion shown in-PIGURE l,-wherein the planar faces of the rings are perpendicular to the axis of the passage and parallel to the axis of the bore 20. Final positioning of the ball 24,. and seal rings and 28 in the assembled condi* tion is obtained by rotating the ball ninety degrees While still urging same in the downward direction. Such rotation may be accomplished by using the stem '39 mounted to the handle 38 or by using a screwdriver (not shown).

Next, O-ring 50 is installed within annular groove 48 in the removablefbonnet'34and O-ring44, annular bushing 45 and stem 3t are installed within the bonnets bore 01 opening 31. The bonnet assemblyis then threaded into the opening 36-and the stem is adjustably positioned mounted for slidable movement as well as sealing engagementwith the'hemispherically-shaped portion of the valve" seat, and a front face comprising an inner concavely curved portion 26band 28b mounted for sealing engage} ment with the outer convexly-curved portion 52 of ball 24. The diameter of the hemispherically-shaped seal ring is preferably smaller than the. diameter of the hemispherically-shaped surface of the valve seat. (See valve seat 56 and ring 28 in FIG. 1.) This'mismatch of therespective surfaces makes it easierto obtain a better sealing contact between the valve seat-and the ring since the same force is now distributed over a smaller bearing area; Sincethe' seal rings must be installedgun'der preload, thefcornbined' length of the ring-ball-ring'unit prior to assembly must be greater than the distance separating the'valve seats.

Another preferred form for this unique seal ring is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The seal ring 65 includes means for restricting the motion of the sealring within the valve seat during the installation of theball 24. The means as shown comprise a semi-circular, radially extending flange or boss portion 66 formed on the portion of the ring positioned farthest from the opening 36 in the housing 10.

Another preferred form for the seal ring is shown in' FIG. 6. The seal ring 68 has annular grooves70 and 72 formed in the rear and front faces, respectively. O-rings (not shown) may be positioned within these annular grooves. This form is particularly beneficial in .applications'where the seal ring is formed from a hard unyielding material such as any one of several metals; ,The use of -O-rings within the annular grooves eflectivelyprevent leakage through the valve, particularly between: the ball 24 and the downstream valve seat. When a seallring of this type is used, there is no necessity to use-a valve, structure having annular grooves formed Withinthe hem1- spherically-shaped surface of the valve seats: 1. Assembly of the valve is accomplished; by inserting O-rings 62 and into the annular gro'oves'58 and 60 withinthe valve seats 54 and 56.. Nexhthe seal rings 26 and 28 are inserted through the opening 36 of the housing 10 into the central space or bore 20. Each ring 26, 28 is positioned in a respective one of the valve seats 54, 56 as shown in FIG. 2. Prior to the positioning'of the seal rings 26 and 28 positioned farthest from theopening 36 is in closer'proximity to, each-other than the portion of each ring positioned nearest said opening. 36. Theball the bore orcentral space 20" until itsfoute'r convexly- "curved portion 52 firmly engages the inner ';concavelycurved :portionzelz and 28b of the'seal rings'26 and 28.

As greater force is applied to the ball 24, the ball continues to move downward into the central space 20 and the seal ball 24 in the final assembled condition, the portion ofthe rings 26 and zfilmove froin the positions shown in FIG-'1 at an angle to the axis of the passage; tofthefinalposi- URES 2: and-13,)vherein1the planar faces;of-therings are T or within therear face ofz-th'e seal '24 is then inserted through the opening 36. The ball -is mounted in'the open position, i.e'., th'efluid passage :22 of the ball 24 being aligned in" communication with the fluid passages 12 and 14.; The ball24' is urged downward into until it is; securely seated-within the balls keyed slot 32. The handle 38 is then securely attachedto the stern by the lock washer 40 and screw 42. The valveris now completely assembled and ready for. installation within a pipe line. .Disassembly of the valve may be accomplished whether or not the valve is installed in a pipe line without thenecessity of first removing same from said pipe line, by reversing the steps outlined above. 7

It will readily beappreciated'that a valve having a seat seal simple and compactin'design, easy to assemble, disassemble and maintain, and inexpensive to manufacture has been described. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by-Way of. illustration and not limitation, as various other forms and-modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art; For example, an-

nular grooves may be installed either within the valve seat 7 ring without affecting the operation of the valve.

I claim:

l. A valve comprising:

(a) a housing having (1) aligned inlet and outlet ports,"

(2) means: defining a bore having an axis perpendicular'to a line passing through the center of said ports,and r (3) a pair of annular valve seats, one of eachbeing disposed adjacent to and concentric with each said port, each of'said valve seats comprising an annular hemispherical surface;

(b) a rotatable balldisposed within said bore and having a fluid passage arranged in one rotational position of said ball to provide communication between said ports, said ball inanother rotational position 7 thereof being arranged" to prevent communication between'said'portj and (c) a pair of rings jeach'having anannular-hemispherical surface and a planar face, each of. said rings, during the assembled condition of the valve, being mounted 'mounted for slidable movement ina respective one of said valve seats, whereby the planar faces of said ringsmovefrom a position at an angle' with a line passing through the centers of said ports to' a final position-parallel to the axis of said bore.

21A valve asv described in claim 1 including a sea means, said seal meansbeing interposed between the valve seat formed adjacent-tov and concentric with 'the outlet .port and the ring positionedtherein.

- 3;A valveasdes'cribed in claim 1 including a pair of fseal means,- oneof T each being interposed between. each valvai et and the ring positioned therein. i

I I valveflas described-inclaim 3 in whichf said pair of sealfrneanscomprises a pair'ofO-rings. V

5. .Ayalvje as desoribed'in' claim 1 including means the mdveiaen ofsaid' rings.

y 6. A valve'as described in claim l in eachsaid 'valve seat; comprises an-flannular' hemispherical; surface having, an A annular v gro e formed therein, and apair, of

'lation or removal of said ball in said bore, being 4 for lirniting, during the; installation of said, ball in said bore,

5 seal means, one of each seal means being positioned within a respective one of said annular grooves.

7. A valve as described in claim 6 in which each said annular groove comprises an annular radially extending surface and an annular axially extending surface, both surfaces which cojoin along a common substantially circular line.

8. A valve as described in claim 6 including means for limiting, during the installation of said ball in said bore, the movement of said rings.

9. A valve as described in claim 8 in which said pair of seal means comprises a pair of O-rings.

10. A valve as described in claim 1 in which the radius of curvature of the valve seats is larger than the radius of curvature of the rings.

11. A valve as described in claim 1 in which said rings have an annular groove formed in the surface which comes into sealing engagement with the valve seat and the surface which comes into sealing engagement with the rotatable ball.

12. In a free floating ball valve assembly having a valve housing, a pair of spaced hemispherical valve seats formed in and longitudinally spaced of said housing and defining an inlet port and an outlet port, a ball valve member,

means for positioning said ball valve within said housing between said inlet and outlet ports in preloaded sealing relation therewith, said positioning means including a lateral opening in said housing for insertion of said ball valve, first and second compressible seating rings, each of said seating rings including a hemispherical sealing surface in siidable engagement with one of said hemispherical valve seats, and a planar sealing surface on each said seating ring for engagement with said ball valve, whereby said seating rings may be angularly positioned for reception of said ball valve and forced by said ball valve to return to full seating engagement between said valve seats and said ball valve with a seal being formed between said hemispherical valve seat and hernispherical portion of said seating ring and a seal being formed between said ball valve and said planar surface of said seating ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,038,489 Allen June 12, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 856,676 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1960 

1. A VALVE COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING HAVING (1) ALIGNED INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, (2) MEANS DEFINING A BORE HAVING AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO A LINE PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF SAID PORTS, AND (3) A PAIR OF ANNULAR VALVE SEATS, ONE OF EACH BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO AND CONCENTRIC WITH EACH BEING PORT, EACH OF SAID VALVE SEATS COMPRISING AN ANNULAR HEMISPHERICAL SURFACE; (B) A ROTATABLE BALL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BORE AND HAVING A FLUID PASSAGE ARRANGED IN ONE ROTATIONAL POSITION OF SAID BALL TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID PORTS, SAID BALL IN ANOTHER ROTATIONAL POSITION THEREOF BEING ARRANGED TO PREVENT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID PORT; AND (C) A PAIR OF RINGS EACH HAVING AN ANNULAR HEMISPHERICAL SURFACE AND A PLANAR FACE, EACH OF SAID RINGS DURING THE ASSEMBLED CONDITION OF THE VALVE, BEING MOUNTED IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID VALVE SEATS TO HOLD SAID BALL THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID RINGS, DURING INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL OF SAID BALL IN SAID BORE, BEING MOUNTED FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID VALVE SEATS, WHEREBY THE PLANAR FACES OF SAID RINGS MOVE FROM A POSITION AT AN ANGLE WITH A LINE PASSING THROUGH THE CENTERS OF SAID PORTS TO A FINAL POSITION PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID BORE. 